Black clay from Tolima is used in restaurants and homes for preparing and serving traditional dishes Its origins can be traced back at least 700 years to vases and pitchers found in pre-Columbian archaeological sites. It is still made in the traditional manner, by families in the village Tolima Colombia, on the banks of the Magdalena River in Central Colombia. Each piece is hand-crafted using local clays, burnished by hand and fired on-site. The painstaking process and natural materials give the dishes an authentic, distinctive and elegant look. Tayamma Pottery heats evenly and is renowned for retaining heat. They are used for the preparation of traditional meals, generally for the preparation of food in a slow way, such as vegetable, which need to retain their color and nutritional properties. They are excellent especially for dry cooking, with very little water or in the oven. Foods cooked in clay pots are tastier. Handmade 100% in Colombia from clay that contains mica which allows it to withstand heat. PRIOR TO FIRST USE Thoroughly clean with mild detergent to remove any residue that may be present to the firing process. Fill each piece full of water and place in the oven for 30 minutes at 200 centigrade. This process allows Tayamma items to seal. However, due to porous nature of the pieces a complete seal is sometimes achieved only after items have been used several times for cooking. Additional Details ------------------------------ Product description: Black clay from Tolima is used in restaurants and homes for preparing and serving traditional dishes Its origins can be traced back at least 700 years to vases and pitchers found in pre-Columbian archaeological sites. It is still made in the traditional manner, by families in the village Tolima Colombia, on the banks of the Magdalena River in Central Colombia. Each piece is hand-crafted using local clays, burnished by hand and fired on-site. The painstaking process and natural materials give the dishes an authentic, distinctive and elegant look. Tayamma Pottery heats evenly and is renowned for retaining heat. They are used for the preparation of traditional meals, generally for the preparation of food in a slow way, such as vegetable, which need to retain their color and nutritional properties. They are excellent especially for dry cooking, with very little water or in the oven. Foods cooked in clay pots are tastier. Handmade 100% in Colombia from clay that contains mica which allows it to withstand heat. PRIOR TO FIRST USE Thoroughly clean with mild detergent to remove any residue that may be present to the firing process. Fill each piece full of water and place in the oven for 30 minutes at 200 centigrade. This process allows Tayamma items to seal. However, due to porous nature of the pieces a complete seal is sometimes achieved only after items have been used several times for cooking.